Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne admitted that he is still struggling with the feeling on the front end of his Panigale, but he was still able to set the fastest time during the MCE British Superbike qualifying session at Cadwell Park to nab pole position.
Byrne lapped a 1’26.265 and that is the quickest time of the race weekend so far, but the Kent rider still hasn’t regained that good feeling and form that he had with his red machine during a recent test at the track.
In between Q1 and Q2 his team made a big change to the Panigale. They adapted the head angle of the steering pipe to try and put a little bit less weight on the front tyre.
As usual Byrne opted for the softer rear and front Pirelli compounds. Starting on pole is the best place to be for Byrne and he is aiming for a good start in both races at the Lincolnshire circuit tomorrow.
“I don’t think I am the only rider who is struggling. We did something between Q1 and Q2 that you never normally do unless you were on a test day at the track away from the track and away from the pressures of racing,” said Byrne.
“We changed the actual steering pipe, the head angle of the steering pipe to try and put a little bit less weight onto the front tyre. But even that didn’t work. I went back out in Q2 and when I went out in Q2 my initial laps were not that fast and then we made another little change to adapt the bike and squeeze it into Q3.
“Starting from the front row is the place to be and just see how the race pans out. I just wish we could get a bit of feeling and bit of confidence from the front of the bike.”
